A carriage drew up alongside the ship and they both took a step forward. Christian got a sharp elbow in the ribs from Gustav for his troubles. With a sigh, he fell into line behind his older brother.
Count Magnus Jansson climbed out of the coach. He lifted Erika and set her gently onto the stone of the dockside. Gustav gasped as the count handed her a walking cane.
He turned and glared at Christian. “You, stupid fool, look what you have done!”
They reached the Jansson family, and much to Christian’s chagrin, Gustav immediately turned on the charm offensive. He swiped off his hat and bowed low to them both. “It is such a relief that I have been able to catch up with you one last time before you depart,” he said.
Christian gritted his teeth. His brother was always aboutIand notwe.
Forget about him for a minute. You must leave a favorable impression with her. Make Erika remember you with fondness, not distress.
Erika tilted her head and looked past Gustav. She smiled at Christian. He glanced at her walking stick before giving her a pained, regretful look in return.“I am so very sorry, Countess Erika. I will never forgive myself for hurting you,” he said.
Count Magnus shot Christian a hard glare. Christian had made his apologies the previous afternoon, but it was clear he was far from forgiven.
He didn’t want to think how uncomfortable things were going to be for her trying to travel on a ship when she had a damaged knee. The constant rocking and rolling motion of the boat would make for an extremely unpleasant journey.
Gustav moved to stand with Magnus and began to conduct yet another of his long, dry political discussions. Seeing an opportunity to speak to Erika somewhat privately, Christian turned his back slightly to his brother and stepped in close. “I pray that you are healed before you reach England.”
“Thank you. But let us not part on poor terms, Christian. You can take heart from knowing you have given me the best excuse to sit and read while on board. My father will not be able to press me into making long turns about the deck,” she replied.
She was being kind for his sake, but it only served to make him feel even worse. Why couldn’t she and the count depart next week? If he had more time, then he would be able to show her how truly sorry he was and how much he regretted her leaving. “I know you might be looking forward to your new life in England, but for me, today is a very unhappy day. I have been thinking a lot about you of late,” he said.
“Have you?”
He reached out and took hold of her hand, hoping that his brother was too busy to notice. “I just wish you and I had more time to talk. To perhaps take a different path to the ones that we are both now setting out on. It saddens me that the roads of our lives diverge at this point. That we may never see one another again.”
His fingers itched to pull her into his embrace and leave a long, lingering kiss on her soft pink lips. If Gustav hadn’t been standing a mere three feet away, he would have thrown caution to the wind and done just that.
Erika closed her eyes and dropped her head. A tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away with her free hand. “The English writer William Shakespeare said, ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’ and I think he was right. I shall yearn for the wild beauty of Sweden, but I will especially miss you, Christian. I will do all I can to come back to my homeland, hopefully sooner rather than later. My only concern will be the possible circumstances of my return.”
His brother and Count Jansson were shaking hands, making their final farewells. It was now or never. He leaned in and brushed a kiss on Erika’s cheek, then whispered, “Would it be acceptable if I wrote to you in London?”
Her gaze shifted to Gustav, then back to him. “Yes, but don’t tell your brother. I don’t think he would appreciate it. Your father and mine spoke at length last night. It would appear that Gustav is set on me eventually belonging to him, and they are in agreement.”
His heart missed a beat. Had he left things too late? “And have you given any sort of approval of that understanding?”
“No. Not yet anyway.”
Christian let go of Erika’s hand. He stepped back a mere second before Gustav pushed between the two of them and towered over her.
“Countess Erika, I wish you a safe journey to England. I know you will make a success of your work in assisting your father. You do your king and your country proud by serving them,” he said.
“Thank you, Prince Gustav. I hope I shall be up to the task,” she replied.
Gustav cleared his throat and Christian’s stomach dropped. What the devil would he do if his brother suddenly got down on one knee and proposed to Erika right there on the dockside?
“I have spoken with your father and he has agreed.”
Oh no, please no. I couldn’t bear it.
“That from time to time, I shall be able to send you letters of guidance and instruction. I think you will find my insights into animal husbandry and the running of an estate to be most illuminating. I trust that you will read my correspondence and in time come to a decision as to how best to use those lessons,” said Gustav.
What?
A look of dumbfounded shock and surprise appeared on Erika’s face. Gustav wanted to train her to be a wife. This was the best thing he had heard all day. So much for being the grand romantic and wooing a woman—Gustav wasn’t even going to bother with trying to win Erika’s heart.
“Yes, don’t you think this is a marvelous idea, Erika? I am sure that you will find Prince Gustav’s advice to be of great use. Especially for when we return to Sweden,” said Magnus.
